8 Memory Care Facilities in Virginia Beach, VA

Virginia Beach has a large senior community that comprises over 12 percent of the 450,000-person population. The city is situated on the southeastern coast of Virginia, a state where more than 140,000 people have Alzheimer's disease. The Virginia Beach area provides an array of resources for local seniors with dementia and their families, as well as more than half a dozen memory care facilities.

In Virginia Beach, memory care facilities are officially referred to as "special care units," or SCUs. Some SCUs are freestanding, while others are located within secure wings of assisted living facilities. Assisted living facilities that house memory care units must meet specialized requirements regarding staffing, staff training, safety and security features and admission policies. SCUs are licensed and monitored by the Virginia Department of Social Services. 

• Seniors in Virginia Beach do not pay taxes on income received from Social Security. While other types of retirement income are taxable, they are deductible up to $12,000. This may allow seniors to put more money into their memory care budget.

• While the overall cost of living is about 15 percent higher than the national average, it is on par for the statewide cost of living. Healthcare expenses are relatively high at roughly 15 percent higher than state and national averages, which may be a concern for seniors managing a chronic condition like Alzheimer's disease.

• The violent crime rate in Virginia Beach is lower than regional, state and national averages, which may provide peace of mind for families with loved ones in memory care in the city. On a scale of 1 to 100, with 1 being low crime, the violent crime rate is 13.8, compared to the state average of 19.7 and the U.S. average of 31.1. The rate of property crime is higher than the state and national average at 40.0 but lower than the regional average of 45.3. 

• The air quality in Virginia Beach is good, which may appeal to seniors who have cardiovascular disease or respiratory illnesses. The city tied for 1st for cleanest metropolitan areas in the country for 24-hour particle pollution.

Financial Assistance for Memory Care in Virginia Beach

Learn more about these programs, plus who’s eligible, on our Memory Care in Virginia page.

More Ways to Pay for Memory Care

While many families use their own funds or personal assets to pay for memory care, there are plenty of additional options to cover these costs. Some additional ways to finance memory care costs include:

• Veterans Benefits
• Life Insurance Policy
• Long-Term Care Insurance
• Reverse Mortgage

For more information about different ways to finance memory care, visit our Memory Care in Virginia page.

Virginia Beach and the surrounding area are home to numerous government agencies and non-profit organizations offering help for seniors searching for or currently residing in a memory care community. These organizations can also provide assistance in a number of other eldercare services such as geriatric care management, elder law advice, estate planning, finding home care and health and wellness programs.

To see a list of free memory care resources in Virginia Beach, please visit our Memory Care in Virginia page.

Virginia Beach-area memory care communities must adhere to the comprehensive set of state laws and regulations that all memory care communities in Virginia are required to follow. Visit our Memory Care in Virginia page for more information about these laws.